This area sits in the borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames and covers parts of the wards of Norbiton, St. Mark’s, Surbiton Hill and Tolworth, and sits only a short walk from the impressive Grade-II listed Art Deco Surbiton Station, which offers a regular service to Waterloo that takes under 20 minutes despite Surbiton’s zone 6 location. Only a 5-minute bus ride away, Kingston is the nearest shopping centre, but Surbiton high street’s own conveniences are in no short supply. With an abundance of community-minded pubs to suit anybody from the craft beer connoisseur to the riverside Pimm’s sipper, and plenty of great local schools, Surbiton has long been a popular destination for families, and the recent influx of students from nearby universities has only added to the diverse and interesting community. The neighbourhood hugs the river, and, as part of suburban London, it is characterised by its plethora of green parks, child-friendly services and 19th-century single family homes. Home to many independent restaurants and cafes, as well as the Ditton Hill Farm & Stables, locals find plenty to do in the area. The area also boasts a community space, called Museum of Futures, which hosts events like cooking classes and gaming workshops.

Ditton was originally a Saxon settlement, and, along with nearby Thames Ditton, appear in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Ditone and Ditune. The manor was bought by the gunpowder magnate George Evelyn in 1565 and gunpowder mills were built throughout the area. Throughout the 19th century, the Earls of Egmont were main landowners of the manor, and during this time most of the area’s population were employed at William Hipwell’s dairy farm. It wasn’t until the manor burned down in 1911 and the Kingston by-pass was built in 1927 that houses and schools began to replace the farmland. Today, the multiple parks and gardens highlight the area’s pride in its past as farmland.

Eric Clapton, voted by Rolling Stone as one of the best guitarists of all time, grew up in this neighbourhood, attending the local Hollyfield School and Kingston College of Art. He was often seen busking in the local area before his career took off as a member of the Yardbirds, Cream, and a number of other bands and solo projects.

Ditton Hill was once home to Filmscapes, a landscape gardening company that is responsible for well-known movies, which sadly shut up shop in 2021 after 40 years in the business. Their credits include the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Great Expectations, Anna Karenina, and multiple Harry Potter films, as well as the London 2012 Opening Ceremony!

While Surbiton’s crime rate is 44.5% and significantly lower than England’s, Norbiton and are closer to 65%. A portion of Norbiton’s population (approximately 16.7%) is considered to be deprived. Still, the postal sector as a whole has relatively high economic activity – more than 70% are employed. There are also plenty of opportunities for recreational activity – from the Surbiton farmers to the Ditton Hill Marina. One local resident mentioned that he loved “living in the leafy outskirts of suburban London with the enchanting River Thames on your doorstep.”

Despite the neighbourhood bordering Surbiton’s main highstreet and busy station, the area is few and far between by way of new and upcoming developments, most likely thanks to the Long Ditton Residents Association who aim to keep the area from overdevelopment. The only nearby building project is that of Siden Mews on Brighton Road, a short walk from the station, which will provide a number of new apartments and maisonettes on the site of a former builders yard. Beyond this, Crossrail 2 is slated to pass through Surbiton Station, speeding up the already rather rapid journey into London and out further afield, reducing the sometimes serious overcrowding that can occur at the busy transport hub. Though confirmation is yet to be made, and a completion date still very much up in the air - perhaps in the 2030s, it is likely Crossrail will bring further investment to Surbiton over the coming decade. That said, Kevin Davis, leader of Kingston Council, is confident that this can be done while still maintaining the area’s unique culture and suburban feel. It is also likely that the area will feel the effect of the population increase accross the borough of Kingston, with the population expected to increase by 20,000 by 2030.